Method of driving tunnels oe sinking shafts



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) I

M.. WOLPF. METHOD 0F' DRIVING TUNNBLS 0R SINKING SHAFTS.

No. 460,545. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.y

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. WOLFF.

METHOD 0F DRIVING TUNNELS 0R SINKING SHAPTS.

No. 460,545. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

/NVENTOH A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORITZ IVOLFF, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF DRIVING TUNNELS OR SINKING SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,545, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application led December 29, 1890. Renewed September l. 1891. Serial No.404,408. (No model.) Patented in England October 8, 1890,N0. 15,911.

To all whom. it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MORITZ W'OLFF, a citizen of the German Empire,residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lWIethods ofDriving` Tunnels or Sinking Shafts, (for which Letters Patent weregranted to me in England, No. 15,911, dated October 8, 1890,) of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of driving tunnels orsinking shafts, wells, and foundations, said method being moreespecially designed for passing through Water-bearing strata and belowWater-levels.

The invention consists of a method of driving tunnels or sinking shaftsby first boring a series of small holes on the outline of the proposedtunnel or shaft, connecting said holes so as to form an annular space,inserting a casing into said annular space, and filling up the annularspace outside of said casing by means of concrete, so that a solidpermanent wall is formed that permits the removal of the core Within thesame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l, 3, and 5 are vertical centralsections illustrating my improved method of driving tunnels or sinkingshafts, said figures illustrating the different. stages of the method;and Figs. 2, 4, and 6 are horizontal sections, respectively,

- on the lines 2 2, Fig. l, 4 4, Fig. 8, and 6 6,

Fig. 5.

imilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In sinking shafts and tunneling in rock a series of comparatively smallholes are drilled by suitable boring-tools at a short distance from eachother around the outline of the proposed shaft, well, or tunnel. In thecase of quicksand and similar material and in water-bearing strata anannular space is cleared by drilling or by means of hydraulic jetsapplied to the space between two concentric casings a a, which vare sunkor pushed forward as the drilling proceeds, and which casings serve toexclude the water or sand. In either method of procedure a central coreis left, which is then removed by the usual means. Then dealing withhard material,

the series of small holes is afterward enlarged by means of tools oflarger diameter, so that a continuous annular space b is obtained, theinner and outer contours of which are formed by short arcs or circles,as shown clearly in the horizontal sections in Figs. 2 and 4. In theannular space h that is thus obtained a number of rings el may then beinserted one after the other, so as to form a casing, which is thenbacked up by concrete, as shown in Figs. 8 and 4. In this manner theWater from the surrounding strata may be completely shut off, so thatthe removal of the core within the casing may be accomplished withoutany difficulty. For the purpose of enlarging the small holes so thattheir circumferences intersect and produce the annular space justdescribed, a concentric series of chisel-pointed tools e is arranged insuch a manner that the plane of the chisels in any two adjacent holesare at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 6, so that all thechisels may be simultaneously rotated at a uniform speed without theirpoints coming in contact with each other. In quicksand the entireinterior space at the lower part of the concentric casing CZ may befilled with concrete after the removal of the core, while inbridge-foundations the whole casing may be so iilled. The upper parts orrings of the concentric casing d may be ultimately removed forsubsequent use elsewhere and replaced by less expensive brick-work. Ifthe surrounding strata are unusually loose and dangerous, the entireannular space between the casing is filled with concrete, which therebyforms with the casing a solid permanent Wall. By this method the casingmay be sunk vertically with certainty, as it Will not deviate from thcperpendicular line in case the bottom of the casing comes in contactwith inclined strata, roots of trees, rocks, or other obstacles, asthese obstructions are readily broken up and removed by means of toolsinserted through and operated in the annular space in the casing. Inboring through a rock only a small amount of material is to be operatedon by the boring-tools, as the remaining core can be removed by blastingand other simple means.

My improved method has the advantage IOO necting said holes, so as toform an annular space, inserting a casing in said space and 15 illng theremaining space with concrete, and finally removing the core inclosed bysaid easing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in preszo ence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MORITZ IVOLFF.

IVitnesses:

'lHEoDoR WOLFF, OTTO KUNZE.

